Rally Against Political Imposition: Demonstrators in Imphal East denounced the forced imposition of President’s Rule and criticized the appointment of Biren Singh as chief minister under controversial circumstances. The protest reflects growing frustration among the majority Meitei population, who believe that the Centre’s actions favored Kuki interests at the expense of their own.
BY PC Bureau
A mass protest rally was held in Manipur’s Imphal East district, with demonstrators demanding the lifting of President’s Rule and the immediate appointment of a new leader to resolve the ongoing crisis. This rally marks the first indication that, after President’s Rule, the state may face a new challenge—this time from the majority Meitei population. Many Meiteis believe that the Centre ousted Biren Singh under pressure from Kuki MLAs in order to secure a secret deal with the Kuki Zo communities.
The Coordinating Committee of Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), the apex body of Meitei civil society groups, has already denounced President’s Rule, and the Saturday protest is believed to have their full support. Several protestors criticized the Centre for forcing Biren Singh into the role of chief minister and echoed COCOMI’s call for legislators to unite in safeguarding Manipur’s interests.
#WATCH | Imphal: Security is heightened outside the Legislative Assembly due to the imposition of the President’s rule in the state. pic.twitter.com/FjudbBrOOY
— JK24x7 News (@JK247News) February 15, 2025
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Speaking to the media, protester Khumbongmayum Rebika said, “We are gathering today to condemn the untimely resignation of the chief minister and the imposition of President’s Rule. We demand that our legislators come together to protect Manipur.”
The protest on Saturday might be just the beginning. COCOMI wields significant influence in the valley, and its leaders are known to be close to Biren Singh. Unless the BHP leadership can broker peace with Biren Singh, the state could face further street turmoil.
Earlier in the day, COCOMI accused the Central government of orchestrating political instability in Manipur to justify imposing President’s Rule and to bolster Kuki militants as a counterforce against insurgent groups active both within the state and across the Myanmar border. Speaking on the phone with Power Corridors, COCOMI Convenor Khuraijam Athouba alleged that the Centre deliberately engineered the current turmoil to legitimize its decision.
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“This is part of a conspiracy,” Athouba alleged. “It aligns with the longstanding demands of Kuki militants and separatist groups who have called for the imposition of AFSPA and President’s Rule in Manipur.”
Athouba further suggested that the Centre’s backing of the Kuki-Zo community against the Meitei population could be a strategic maneuver. He claimed this move is designed to leverage Kuki militants against other insurgent factions within Manipur, as well as against the Myanmar junta along the border.
